The overall objective of this study is to develop a mechanistic understanding of shape control of self-assembled DNA nanoparticles, and to test the hypothesis that nanoparticle shape can influence their cellular uptake, intracellular trafficking and gene delivery efficiency. Several recent studies have raised the prospect that the morphology of virus particles and various types of synthetic nanoparticles is an important determinant for their transport properties and biological functions. We have developed a method for the self-assembly of DNA-containing nanoparticles with several distinct shapes (spherical, rod-like and worm-like) similar to some viral particles for the purpose of gene transfection. Such nanoparticles are ideal systems for understanding the mechanism of DNA-induced self-assembly and the effect of nanoparticle shape on their stability, cell- nanoparticle interactions, transfection efficiency and in vivo transport kinetics. With this Exploratory Grant, we plan (1) to determine the key experimental parameters that effectively control the shape and size of nanoparticles, and to understand the mechanism of shape control in DNA condensation by PEGylated polycations using a combined experimental and computational modeling approach;and (2) to demonstrate nanoparticle shape dependence in cellular uptake, intracellular trafficking and transfection efficiency in vitro and in vivo in a liver-targeted gene delivery model. This study will provide a mechanistic understanding of the major driving forces for the self-assembly of DNA/PEG-polycation nanoparticles and identify key parameters involved in their shape control. It will offer an effective method to control the size and shape of DNA/polymer nanoparticles that can be applicable to a variety of PEGylated gene carriers in synthesizing nanoparticles with high degree of control over their shapes or morphologies.

Public Health Relevance

This study will provide detailed understanding on how to assemble DNA nanoparticles with controlled shape and size that mimic natural virus particles. It offers an enabling technology with the potential to markedly improve the transport properties and gene transfer efficiency of DNA/polymer nanoparticles for treating a variety of diseases through the gene therapy approach.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
5R21EB013274-02
Application #
8399009
Study Section
Biomaterials and Biointerfaces Study Section (BMBI)
Program Officer
Tucker, Jessica
Project Start
2011-12-15
Project End
2014-11-30
Budget Start
2012-12-01
Budget End
2014-11-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$184,205
Indirect Cost
$48,234
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Engineering (All Types)
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
001910777
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21218
Williford, John-Michael; Archang, Maani M; Minn, Il et al. (2016) Critical Length of PEG Grafts on lPEI/DNA Nanoparticles for Efficient in Vivo Delivery. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2:567-578
Santos, Jose Luis; Ren, Yong; Vandermark, John et al. (2016) Continuous Production of Discrete Plasmid DNA-Polycation Nanoparticles Using Flash Nanocomplexation. Small 12:6214-6222
We, Zonghui; Ren, Yong; Williford, John-Michael et al. (2015) Simulation and Experimental Assembly of DNA-Graft Copolymer Micelles with Controlled Morphology. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 1:448-455
Wei, Zonghui; Luijten, Erik (2015) Systematic coarse-grained modeling of complexation between small interfering RNA and polycations. J Chem Phys 143:243146
Williford, John-Michael; Santos, Jose Luis; Shyam, Rishab et al. (2015) Shape Control in Engineering of Polymeric Nanoparticles for Therapeutic Delivery. Biomater Sci 3:894-907
Williford, John-Michael; Ren, Yong; Huang, Kevin et al. (2014) Shape Transformation Following Reduction-Sensitive PEG Cleavage of Polymer/DNA Nanoparticles. J Mater Chem B 2:8106-8109
Beh, Cyrus W; Pan, Deng; Lee, Jason et al. (2014) Direct interrogation of DNA content distribution in nanoparticles by a novel microfluidics-based single-particle analysis. Nano Lett 14:4729-35
Williford, John-Michael; Wu, Juan; Ren, Yong et al. (2014) Recent advances in nanoparticle-mediated siRNA delivery. Annu Rev Biomed Eng 16:347-70
Jiang, Xuan; Qu, Wei; Pan, Deng et al. (2013) Plasmid-templated shape control of condensed DNA-block copolymer nanoparticles. Adv Mater 25:227-32